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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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SENATE 



/ Document 
1 No. 5 



CHANGES IN SENATE RULES 



STANDING RULES FOR 

CONDUCTING BUSINESS 

IN THE SENATE OF THE 

UNITED STATES 

SHOWING 

CERTAIN AMENDMENTS INTENDED TO BE PROPOSED 
BY SENATOR ROBERT L. OWEN, OF OKLAHOMA 



^ ; 



PRESENTED BY MR. OWEN 
DECEMBER 7, 1915,— Ordered to be printed 



WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1915 






D. of D. 
JAN 6 1916 



ROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 



[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] 



RULE I. 



APPOINTMENT OF A SENATOR TO THE CHAIR. 

1. In the absence of the Vice President, the Senate shall choose a 
President pro tempore. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX.) 

In the absence of the Vice President, and pending the election 
of a President pro tempore, the Secretary of the Senate, or in his 
absence the Chief Clerk, shall perform the duties of the Chair. 
(Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX.) 

That it is competent for the Seriate to elect a President pro tem- 
pore, who shall hold the office during the pleasure of the Senate and 
until another is elected, and shall execute the duties thereof during 
all future absences of the Vice President until the Senate otherwise 
order. 

3. The President pro tempore shall have the right to name in open 
Senate, or. if absent, in writing, a Senator to perform the duties of 
the Chair; but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjourn- 
ment, except by unanimous consent. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX.) 

4. In event of a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, or when- 
ever the powers and duties of .the President shall devolve on the 
Vice President, the President pro tempore shall have the right to 
name, in writing, a Senator to perform the duties of the Chair during 
his absence : and the Senator so named shall have the right to name in 
open session, or in writing, if absent, a Senator to perform the duties 
of the Chair, but such substitution shall not extend beyond adjourn- 
ment, except by unanimous consent. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. IX.) 

That a-henever a Senator shcdl be designated by the President 

pro tempore to perform the duties of the Chair during his temporary 

absence he shall be empoivered to sign, as acting President pro 

•ore, the enrolled bills and joint resolutions coming from the 

House of Representatives for presentation to the President of the 

'< (1 States. 

A Senator occupying the chair temporarily in the ahsence of those 

Presiding Officers icho may occupy it under the rule, is authorized to 

sign bills and joint resolutions as set forth in this clause. 

RULE II. 

OATHS, ETC. 

The oaths or affirmations required by the Constitution and pre- 
scribed by law shall be taken and subscribed by each Senator, in open 
Senate, before entering upon his duties. (See page 37.) 



4 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 

RULE III. 

COMMENCEMENT OF DAILY SESSIONS. 

1. The Presiding Officer having taken the chair, and a quorum 
being present, the Journal of the preceding dwy shall be read, and 
any mistake made in the entries corrected. The leading of the 
Journal shall not be suspended unless by unanimous consent; and 
when any motion shall be made to amend or correct the same, it shall 
be deemed a privileged question, and proceeded with until disposed 
of. (Jefferson's Manual, Sees. VI, XLIX.) 

Quom m. 

2. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly 
chosen and sworn. (Jefferson's Manual. Sec. VI.) 

RULE IV. 

JOURNAL. 

1. The procedings of the Senate shall be briefly and accurately 
stated on the Journal. Messages of the President in full: titles of 
bills and joint resolutions, and such parts as shall be affected by pro- 
posed amendments ; every vote, and a brief statement of the contents 
of each petition, memorial, or paper presented to the Senate, shall 
be entered. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLIX.) 

2. The legislative, the executive, the confidential legislative pro- 
cedings, and the proceedings when sitting as a Court of Impeach- 
ment, shall each be recorded in a separate book. (Jefferson's Manual, 
Sec. XLIX.) 

RULE V. 

QUORUM ABSENT SENATORS MAY BE SENT FOR. 

1. Xo Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate 
without leave. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. VIII.) 

2. If, at any time during the daily sessions of the Senate, a ques- 
tion shall be raised by any Senator as to the presence of a quorum, 
the Presiding Officer shall forthwith direct the Secretary to call the 
roll and shall announce the result, and these proceedings shall be 
without debate, but a second call for a quorum shall not be had until 
business, other than debate, has been 'presented or has intervened. 
A Senator shall not be required to yield the floor to another Senator 
for the purpose of suggesting the absence of a quorum, without his 
consent. 

3. Whenever upon such roll call it shall be ascertained that a 
quorum is net present, a majority of the Senators present may direct 
the Sergeant-at-Arms to request, and, when necessary, to compel the 
attendance of the absent Senators, by issuing a warrant signed by the 
temporary occuvant of the chair in the absence of the Vice Presi- 
dent, the President pro tempore, or the Senator designated to pre- 
side during the day by the foregoincf officers* and who is also hereby 
authorized to sign said warrant which shall be attested by the Sec- 



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 5 

ry with the seal of the Senate attached, which order shall he 
determined without debate; and pending its execution, and until a 
quorum shall be present, no debate nor motion, except to adjourn, 
shall be in order. The same power* ore given to the majority of 
rtors present to request, and when necessary, to compel the at- 
tendance of absent S( nators when a quorum is present, without 
debate. 

4. If necessary, when a Senator is present, even if paired, and does 
ru t a /is we)' to the roll call, he shall be counted as present to make a 
quorum. 

RULE VI. 

PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIAL'S. 

1 . The presentation of the credentials of Senators elect or ap- 
pointed and other questions of privilege shall always be in order, 
except during the reading and correction of the Journal, while a 
question of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the 
Senate is dividing; and all questions and motions arising or made 
upon the presentation of such credentials shall be proceeded with 
until disposed of. 

2. The Secretary shall keep a record of the certificates of election 
or appointment of Senators by entering in a well-bouncl book kept 
for that purpose the date of the election, the name of the person 
elected and the vote given at the election, the date of the certificate, 
the name of the governor and the secretary of state signing and 
countersigning the same, and the State from which such Senator is 
elected. 

RULE VII. 

MORNING BUSINESS. 

1. After the Journal is read, the Presiding Officer shall lay before 
the Senate messages from the President, reports and communica- 
tions from the heads of Departments, and other communications 
addressed to the Senate, and such bills, joint resolutions, and other 
messages from the House of Representatives as may remain upon 
his table from any previous clay's session undisposed of. The Pre- 
siding Officer shall then call for, in the following order : 

The presentation of petitions and memorials. 

Reports of standing and select committees. 

The introduction of bills and joint resolutions. 

Concurrent and other resolutions. 

Resolutions coming over from a previous day. 
All of which shall be received and disposed of in such order, unless 
unanimous consent shall be otherwise given, except resolutions com- 
ing over from a previous day, which may be considered until dis- 
poser] of on that day or until the expiration of the morning hour, 
and if not disposed of shall go to the Calendar. 

2. Senators having petitions, memorials, or bills, during or 
after the morning hour may deliver them to the Secretary of the 
Senate, indorsing upon them their names and the reference or 
disposition to be made thereof, and said petitions, memorials, and 



6 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 

bills shall, with the approval of the Presiding Officer, be entered on 
the Journal with the names of the Senators presenting them as hav- 
ing been read twice and referred to the appropriate committees, and 
the Secretary of the Senate shall furnish a transcript of such entries 
to the official reporter of debates for publication in the Record. 

It shall not be in order to interrupt a Senator having the floor 
for the purpose of introducing any memorial, petition, report of a 
committee, resolution, or bill. It shall be the duty of the Chair to 
enforce this rule without any point of order hereunder being made 
by a Senator. 

3. Until the morning business shall have been concluded, and so 
announced from the Chair, which may he before the hour of 1 o'clock, 
hut if not concluded until the hour of 1 o'clock has arrived, no motion 
to proceed to the consideration of any bill, resolution, report of a 
committee, or other subject upon the Calendar shall be entertained 
by the Presiding Officer, unless b} r unanimous consent; and if such 
consent be given the motion shall not be subject to amendment, and 
shall be decided without debate upon the merits of the subject pro- 
posed to be taken up. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIV.) 

4. Every petition or memorial shall be referred, without putting 
the question, unless objection to such reference is made; in which 
case all motions for the reception or reference of such petition, 
memorial, or other paper shall be put in the order in which the same 
shall be made, and shall not be open to amendment, except to add 
instructions. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIX.) 

5. Every petition or memorial shall be signed by the petitioner 
or memorialist and have indorsed thereon a brief statement of its 
contents, and shall be presented and referred without debate. But 
no petition or memorial or other paper signed by citizens or subjects 
of a foreign power shall be received, unless the same be transmitted 
to the Senate by the President. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIX.) 

6. That when petitions and memorials are ordered printed in the 
Congressional Record the order shall he deemed to apply to the body 
of the petition only, and the names attached to said petition or 
memorial shall not he printed unless specially ordered by the Senate. 

7. The Presiding Officer may at any time lay, and it shall be in 
order at any time for a Senator to move to lay, before the Senate, 
any bill or other matter sent to the Senate by the President or the 
House of Representatives, and any question pending at that time 
shall be suspended for this purpose. Any motion so made shall be 
determined without debate. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XIV.) 

RULE VIII. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS.. 

At the conclusion of the morning business for each day, unless 
upon motion the Senate shall at any time otherwise order, the 
Senate will proceed to the consideration of the Calendar of Bills 
and Resolutions, and continue such consideration until 2 o'clock; 
and bills and resolutions that are not objected to shall be taken 
up in their order, and each Senator shall be entitled to speak once 
and for five minutes only upon any question ; and the objection may 



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 7 

be interposed at any stage of the proceedings, but upon motion the 
Senate may continue such consideration; and this order shall com- 
mence immediately after the call for "concurrent and other resolu- 
tions," and shall take precedence of the unfinished business and other 
special orders. But if the Senate shall proceed with the considera- 
tion of any matter notwithstanding an objection, the foregoing pro- 
visions touching debate shall not applv. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. 
XIV.) 

Unless otherwise ordered, the morning hour shall terminate at the 
ration of two hours after the meeting of the Senate. 

All motions made before 2 o'clock to proceed to the consideration 
of any matter shall be determined without debate. (Jefferson's 
Manual, Sec. XIV.) 

RULE IX. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS (CONTINUED). 

Immediately after the consideration of cases not objected to upon 
the Calendar is completed, and not later than 2 o'clock, if there shall 
be no special orders for that time, the Calendar of General Orders 
shall be taken up and proceeded with in its order, beginning with 
the first subject on the Calendar ft oxt after the last s u- b j cct -dis- p oa o d 
ef which has been objected to in proceeding with the Calendar; and 
in such case the following motions shall be in order at any time as 
privileged motions, save as against a motion to adjourn, or to pro- 
ceed to the consideration of executive business, or questions of privi- 
lege, to wit : 

First. A motion to proceed to the consideration of an appropria- 
tion or revenue bill. 

Second. A motion to proceed to the consideration of any other bill 
on the Calendar, which motion shall not be open to amendment. 

Third. A motion to pass over the pending subject, which if car- 
ried shall have the effect to leave such subject without prejudice in 
its place on the Calendar. 

Fourth. A motion to place such subject at the foot of the Calendar. 

Each of the foregoing motions shall be decided without debate 
and shall have precedence in the order above named, and may be 
submitted as in the nature and with all the rights of questions of 
order. (Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XIV, XXXIII.) 

RULE X. 

SPECIAL ORDERS. 

1. Any subject may, by a vote of two thi geb a majority of the 
Senators present, be made a special order; and when the time so 
fixed for its consideration arrives the Presiding Officer shall lay it 
before the Senate, unless there be unfinished business of the preced- 
ing day, and if it is not finally disposed of on that day it shall take 
its place on the Calendar of Special Orders in the order of time at 
which it was made special, and shall, at 1 o^clock each day be laid 
before the Senate until disposed of, unless it shall become by adjourn- 
ment the unfinished business. (Jefferson's Manual. Sees. XVIII, 
XXXIII.) 



8 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE KULES. 

2. When two or more special orders have been made for the same 
time, they shall have precedence according to the order in which they 
were severally assigned, and that order shall only be changed by 
direction of the Senate. 

And all motions to change such order, or to proceed to the consid- 
eration of other business, shall be decided without debate. (Jeffer- 
son's Manual, Sees. XVIII, XXXIII.) 

RULE XI. 

OBJECTION TO READING A PAPER. 

When the reading of a paper is called for, and objected to, it shall 
be determined by a vote of the Senate, without debate. (Jefferson's 
Manual, Sec. XXXII.) 

RULE XII. 

VOTING, ETC. 

1. When the yeas and nays are ordered, the names of Senators 
shall be called alphabetically ; and each Senator shall, without de- 
bate, declare his assent or dissent to the question, unless excused by 
the Senate; and no Senator shall be permitted to vote after the 
decision shall have been announced by the Presiding Officer, but 
may for sufficient reasons, after the roll call and before announce- 
ment of the result with unanimous consent, change or withdraw his 
vote. No motion to suspend this rule shall be in order, nor shall 
the Presiding Officer entertain any request to suspend it by unani- 
mous consent. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLI.) 

2. When a Senator declines to vote on call of his name, he shall 
be required to assign his reasons therefor, and having assigned them, 
the Presiding Officer shall submit the question to the Senate : " Shall 
the Senator, for the reasons assigned by him, be excused from vot- 
ing ? " which shall be decided without debate ; and these proceedings 
shall be had after the. roll call and before the result is announced: 
and any further proceedings in reference thereto shall be after such 
announcement. (Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XVII, XLI.) 

3. No request by a Senator for unanimous consent for the taking 
of a final vote on a specified date upon the passage of a bill or joint 
resolution shall be submitted to the Senate for agreement thereto 
until, upon a roll call ordered for the purpose by the presiding officer, 
it shall be disclosed that a quorum of the Senate is present; and 
when a unanimous consent is thus given the same shall operate as 
the order of the Senate, but any unanimous consent may be revoked 
by another unanimous consent granted in the manner prescribed 
above upon one day's notice. 

RULE XIII. 

RECONSIDERATION . 

1. When a question has been decided by the Senate, any Senator 
voting with the prevailing side may. on the same day or on either of 



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS CO THE SENATE RULES, 9 

the next two days of actual session thereafter, move a reconsideration; 
and if the Senate shall refuse to reconsider, or upon reconsideration 
shall affirm its rir>t decision, no further motion to reconsider shall be 
in order unless by unanimous consent. Every motion to reconsider 
shall be decided by a majority vote, and may be laid on the table 
without affecting the question in reference to which the same is made, 
which shall be a final disposition of the motion. (Jefferson's Manual, 
Sec. XLIII.) 

2. When a bill, resolution, report, amendment, order, or message, 
upon which a vote has been taken, shall have gone out of the posses- 
sion of the Senate and has been communicated to the House of Rep- 
resentatives, the motion to reconsider shall be accompanied by a 
motion to request the House to return the same: which last motion 
shall be acted upon immediately, and without debate, and if deter- 
mined in the negative shall be a final disposition of the motion to 
reconsider. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLIII.) 

RULE XIY. 

BILLS, JOINT RESOLUTIONS, AND RESOLUTIONS. 

1. Whenever a bill or joint resolution shall be offered, its introduc- 
tion shall, if objected to, be postponed for one day. (Jeiferson's 
Manual. Sec. XXIII.) 

2. Every bill and joint resolution shall receive three readings 
previous to its passage, which readings shall be on three different 
days, unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise; and the Pre- 
siding Officer =;hall give notice at each reading whether it be the first, 
second, or third : Provided, That the first or second reading of each 
bill may be by title only, unless the Senate in any case shall otherwise 
order. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXII.) 

3. Xo bill or joint resolution shall be committed or. amended until 
it shall have been twice read, after which it may be referred to a 
committee; bills and joint resolutions introduced on leave, and bills 
and joint resolutions from the House of Representatives, shall be 
read once, and may be read twice, on the same clay, if not objected 
to. for reference, but shall not be considered on that day as in Com- 
mittee of the Whole, nor debated, except for reference, unless by 
unanimous consent. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXY.) 

4. Every bill and joint resolution reported from a committee, not 
having previously been read, shall be read once, and twice, if not 
objected to. on the same day, and placed en the Calendar in the order 
in which the same may be reported: and every bill and joint resolu- 
tion introduced on leave, and every bill and joint resolution of the 
House of Representatives which shall have received a first and second 
reading without being referred to a committee, shall, if objection be 
made to further proceeding thereon, be placed on the Calendar. 
(Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXV.) 

5. All resolutions shall lie over one day for consideration, unless 
by unanimous consent the Senate shall otherwise direct. ( Jefferson V 
Manual, Sec. XXY.) 



10 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 

RULE XV. 

BILLS COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. 

1. All bills and joint resolutions which shall have received two 
readings shall first be considered by the Senate as in Committee of 
the Whole, after which they shall be reported to the Senate; and 
any amendments made in Committee of the Whole shall again be 
considered by the Senate, after which further amendments may be 
proposed. (Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XXVI, XXX.) 

2. When a bill or resolution shall have been ordered to be read a 
third time, it shall not be in order to propose amendments, unless by 
unanimous consent, but it shall be in order at any time before the 
passage of any bill or resolution to move its commitment ; and when 
the bill or resolution shall again be reported from the committee it 
shall be placed on the Calendar, and when again considered by the 
Senate it shall be as in Committee of the Whole. (Jefferson's Man- 
ual, Sees. XXVI, XXX.) 

3. Whenever a private bill is under consideration, it shall be in 
order to move, as a substitute for it, a resolution of the Senate refer- 
ring the case to the Court of Claims, under the provisions of the 
act approved March 3, 1883. 

RULE XVI. 

AMENDMENTS TO APPROPRIATION BILLS. 

1. All general appropriation bills shall be referred to the Com- 
mittee on Appropriations, except the following bills, which shall 
be severally referred as herein indicated, namely: The bill making 
appropriations for rivers and harbors, to the Committee on Com- 
merce; the agricultural bill, to the Committee on Agriculture and 
Forestry ; the Army and the Military Academy bills, to the Commit- 
tee on Military Affairs ; the Indian bill, to the Committee on Indian 
Affairs ; the naval bill, to the Committee on Naval Affairs ; the pen- 
sion bill, to the Committee on Pensions; the Post Office bill, to the 
Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads; and no amendments 
shall be received to any general appropriation bill the effect of which 
will be to increase an appropriation already contained in the bill, or 
to add a new item of appropriation, unless it be made to carry out 
the provisions of some existing law, or treaty stipulation, or act, or 
resolution previously passed by the Senate during that session; or 
unless the same be moved by direction of a standing or select com- 
mittee of the Senate, or proposed in pursuance of an estimate of the 
head of some one of the departments. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. 
XXXV.) 

2. All amendments to general appropriation bills moved by direc- 
tion of a standing or select committee of the Senate, proposing to in- 
crease an appropriation already contained in the bill, or to add new 
items of appropriation, shall, at least one day before they are con- 
sidered, be referred to the Committee on Appropriation^ having 
jurisdiction thereof and when actually proposed to the bill no amend- 
ment proposing to increase the amount stated in such amendment 
shall be received; in like manner, amendments proposing new items 



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 11 

of appropriation to river and harbor bills shall, before being con- 
sidered, be referred to the Committee on CommerccT-ftls- o amen d- 

tntTtTatT' unio voiiu/iiyiiiiii^ rTotrt rrrtttTtTj C7T iji i J ijv'l:i mi: ncn puo l iuuuBj 

9 1 1 a ii , oeiore ocmi^ eonoioiereo, oe rci ei reel to iiic - trommnicc ©ii i osu 
Offices and Post Road s* (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXV.) 

3. Xo amendment which proposes general legislation shall be re- 
ceived to any general appropriation bill, nor shall any amendment 
not germane or relevant to the subject-matter contained in the bill 
be received; nor shall any amendment to any item or clause of such 
bill be received which does not directly relate thereto; and all ques- 
tions of relevancy of amendments under this rule, when raised, shall 
be submitted to the Senate and be decided without debate; and any 
amendment to a general appropriation bill may be laid on the table 
without prejudice to the bill. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXV.) 

■i. Xo amendment, the object of which is to provide for a private 
claim, shall be received to any general appropriation bill, unless it be 
to carry out the provisions of an existing law or a treaty stipulation, 
which shall be cited on the face of the amendment. (Jefferson's 
Manual, Sec. XXXV.) 

RULE XVII. 

AMENDMENT MAY BE LAID ON THE TABLE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE 

BILL. 

When an amendment proposed to any pending measure is laid on 
the table, it shall not carry with it, or prejudice, such measure. 

RULE XVIII. 

AMENDMENTS DIVISION OF A QUESTION, 

If the question in debate contains several propositions, any Senator 
may have the same divided, except a motion to strike out and insert,, 
which shall not be divided; but the rejection of a motion to strike 
out and insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion to strike 
out and insert a different proposition; nor shall it prevent a motion 
simply to strike out; nor shall the rejection of a motion to strike out 
prevent a motion to strike out and insert. But pending a motion to 
strike out and insert, the part to be stricken out and the part to be 
inserted shall each be regarded for the purpose of amendment as 
an original question and not an amendment in the first degree ; and 
motions to amend the part to be stricken out shall have precedence. 
(Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XXXV, XXXVI.) 

RULE XIX. 

DEBATE. 

1. When a Senator desires to speak, he shall rise and address the 
Presiding Officer, and shall not proceed until he is recognized, and 
the Presiding Officer shall recognize the Senator who shall first 
address him. No Senator shall interrupt another Senator in debate 
without his consent, except for a question, unless by unanimous con- 



12 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 

sent, and to obtain such consent be shall first address the Presiding 
Officer; and no Senator shall speak more than twice nor for more than 
one hour upon any one question in debate on the same day without 
leave of the Senate, which shall be determined without debate. 
(Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XVII, XXXIX.) 

2. No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form 
of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct 
or motive unworthv or unbecoming a Senator. (Jefferson's Manual, 
Sec. XVII.) 

3. No Senator in debate shall refer offensively to any Stale of the 
Union. 

4. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, transgress the rules 
of the Senate, the Presiding Officer shall, or any Senator may, call 
him to order; and when a Senator shall be called to order he shall sit 
down, and not proceed without leave of the Senate, which, if granted, 
shall be upon motion that he be allowed to proceed in order, which 
motion shall be determined without debate. (Jefferson's Manual, 
Sec. XVII.) 

5. If a Senator be called to order for words spoken in debate, upon 
the demand of the Senator or of any other Senator the exceptionable 
words shall be taken down in writing, and read at the table for the 
information of the Senate. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XVII.) 

6. Whenever confusion arises in the Chamber or the galleries, or 
demonstrations of approval or disapproval are indulged in by the 
occupants of the galleries, it shall be the duty of the Chair to enforce 
order on his own initiative and without any point of order being 
made by a Senator. 

EULE XX. 

QUESTIONS OF ORDER. 

1. A question of order ma} 7 be raised at any stage of the proceed- 
ings, except when the Senate is dividing, and, unless submitted to 
the Senate, shall be decided by the Presiding Officer without debate, 
subject to an appeal to the Senate. The Chair may permit debate for 
his own information and each Senator may be entitled to speak once 
and for not exceeding five minutes on the question of order until the 
Presiding Officer announces that he is ready to rule on the point of 
order. When an appeal is taken, any subsequent question of order 
which may arise before the decision of such appeal shall be decided 
b} r the Presiding Officer without debate ; and every appeal therefrom 
shall be decided at once, and without debate ; and any appeal may be 
laid on the table without prejudice to the pending proposition, and 
thereupon shall be held as affirming the decision of the Presiding 
Officer. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXIII.) 

2. The Presiding Officer may submit any question of order for the 
decision of the Senate. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXIII.) 

RULE XXI. 

MOTIONS. 

1. All motions shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the Pre- 
siding Officer or by any Senator, and shall be read before the same 
shall be debated. (Jefferson's Manual. Sec. XX.) 






PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 13 

'2. Any motion or resolution may be withdrawn or modified by 
the mover at any time before a decision, amendment, or ordering of 
the yeas and nays, except a motion to reconsider, Which shall not be 
withdrawn without leave. (Jefferson's Manual, See. XX.) 

RULE XXII. 

PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS. 

When a question is pending, no motion shall be received but — 

To adjourn. 

To adjourn to a day certain, or that when the Senate adjourn it 
shall be to a day certain. 

To take a recess. 

To proceed to the consideration of executive business. 

To lay on the table. 

To postpone indefinitely. 

To postpone to a day certain. 

To commit. 

To amend. 
Which several motions shall have precedence as they stand arranged ; 
and the mcticns relating to adjcumment, to take a recess, to proceed 
to the ccnsideraticn of executive business, to lay on the table, shall 
be decided without debate. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XXXIII.) 

Provided, however, That any Senator may move that the debate 
should be brought to a close, the Chair shall, without permitting any 
debate thereon, put the question to the Senate — 

" Is it the sense of the Senate that the debate should be brought to 
a close? >? 

And if that question shall be decided in the affirmative, then it 
shall be in order to the exclusion of all other questions and business 
for any Senator* to move to limit debate on the pending bill or reso- 
lution and all amendments thereto, and the said motion shall be 
decided without debate. And thereafter, the motion being carried, 
no Senator shall be entitled to speak more than one hour in all on 
the bill, the amendments thereto, and any motion affecting the same. 

No dilatory motion, shall be in order, and it shall be the duty of 
the Presiding Officer to declare such motion out of order when the 
question of order is raised by a Senator, or to immediately submit 
the question without debate to the Senate. 

RULE XXIII. 

PREAMBLES. 

When a bill or resolution is accompanied by a preamble, the ques- 
tion shall first be put on the bill or resolution and then on the pre- 
amble, which may be withdrawn by a mover before an amendment 
of the same, or ordering of the yeas and nays: or it may be laid on the 
table without prejudice to the bill or resolution, and shall be a final 
dispositicn of such preamble. (Jefferson's Manual. Sec. XXVI.) 






14 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 

RULE XXIV. 

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. 

1. In the appointment of the standing committees, the Senate, 
unless otherwise ordered, shall proceed by ballot to appoint severally 
the chairman of each committee, and then, by one ballot, the other 
members necessary to complete the same. A majority of the whole 
number of votes given shall be necessary to the choice of a chairman 
of a standing committee, but a plurality of votes shall elect the other 
members thereof. All other committees shall be appointed by ballot, 
unless otherwise ordered, and a plurality of votes shall appoint. 
(Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XI.) 

2. When a chairman of a committee shall resign or cease to serve 
on a committee, and the Presiding Officer be authorized by the Senate 
to fill the vacancy in such committee, unless specially otherwise or- 
dered, it shall be only to fill up the number on the committee. 

RULE XXV. 

STANDING COMMITTEES. 

[Committees appointed every two years. Last change March 15, 1913.] 

1. The following standing committees shall be appointed at the 
commencement of each Congress, with leave to report by bill or 
otherwise : 

A Committee on Additional Accommodations for the Library of 
Congress, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, to consist of sixteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Appropriations, to consist of seventeen Senators. 

A Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of 
the Senate, to consist of five Senators, to which shall be referred all 
resolutions directing the payment of mone}^ out of the contingent 
fund of the Senate or creating a charge upon the same. 

A Committee on Banking and Currency, to consist of twelve 
Senators. 

A Committee on Canadian Relations, to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committee on the Census, to consist of twelve Senators. 

A Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment, to consist of 
twelve Senators. 

A Committee on Claims, to consist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Coast and Insular Survey, to consist of nine 
Senators. 

A Committee on Coast Defenses, to consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Commerce, to consist of seventeen Senators. 

A Committee on Conservation of National Resources, to consist 
of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Corporations Organized in the District of Colum- 
bia, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Cuban Relations, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Disposition of Useless Papers in the Executive 
Departments, to consist of three Senators. 



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 15 

A Committee on the District of Columbia, to consist of fourteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Education and Labor, to consist of eleven Sen- 
ators. 

A Committee on Engrossed Bills, to consist of three Senators, 
which shall examine all bills, amendments, and joint resolutions 
before they go out of the possession of the Senate. 

A Committee on Enrolled Bills, to consist of three Senators, which 
shall have power to act jointly with the same committee of the House 
of Representatives, and which, or >ome one of which, shall examine 
all bills or joint resolutions which shall have passed both Houses, to 
see that the same are correctly enrolled, and, when signed by the 
Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, shall forthwith 
present the same, when they shall have originated in the Senate, to 
the President of the United States in person, and report the fact and 
date of such presentation to the Senate. 

A Committee to Examine the Several Branches of the Civil Serv- 
ice, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Agriculture, 
to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Commerce, 
to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Interior Department, to con- 
sist of 'five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Labor, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department, to consist 
of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Post-Office Department, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Expenditures in the War Department, to consist 
of five Senators. 

A Committee on Finance, to consist of seventeen Senators. 

A Committee on Fisheries, to consist of nine Senators, to which 
shall be referred all matters relating to fish and fisheries. 

A Committee on the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians, to consist of 
five Senators. 

A Committee on Foreign Relations, to consist of seventeen Senators. 

A Committee on Forest Reservations and the Protection of Game, 
to consist of nine Senators. 

A Committte on the Geological Survey, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Immigration, to consist of thirteen Senators. 

A Committee on Indian Affairs, to consist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Indian Depredations, to consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Industrial Expositions, to consist of thirteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Interoceanic Canals, to consist of fourteen 
Senators. 



16 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 

A Committee on Interstate Commerce, to consist of sixteen 

Senators. 

A Committee to Investigate Tr rs on Inland Lands, to consist 

of five Senators. 

A Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Lands, to 

consist of thirteen Senators. 

A Joint Committee on the Revision of the Laws of the United 
States, to consist of four Senators. 

A Committee on the Judiciary, to consist of eighteen Senators. 

A Committee on the Library, to consist of eight Senators, which 
shall have power to act jointly with the same committee of the House 
of Representatives. 

A Committee on Manufactures, to consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Military Affairs, to consist of sixteen Senators. 

A Committee on Mines and Mining, to consist of ten Senators. 

A Committee on the Mississippi River and its Tributaries, to con- 
sist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on National Banks, to consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on Naval Affairs, to consist of sixteen Senators. 

A Committee on Pacific Islands and Porto Rico, to consist of 
twelve Senators. 

A Committee on Pacific Railroads, to consist of ten Senators. 

A Committee on Patents, to consist of seven Senators. 

A Committee on Pensions, to consist of thirteen Senators. 

A Committee on the Philippines, to consist of fourteen Senators. 

A Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, to consist of sixteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Printing, to consist of eight Senators, which shall 
haA'e power to act jointly with the same committee of the House of 
Representatives. 

A Committee on Private Lands Claims, to consist of seven Sen- 
ators. 

A Committee on Privileges and Elections, to consist of fifteen 
Senators. 

A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to consist of six- 
teen Senators, which shall have power to act jointly with the same 
committee of the House of Representatives. 

A Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine, to con- 
sist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Public Lands, to consist of fifteen Senators. 

A Committee on Railroads, to consist of eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Revolutionary Claims, to consist of five Senators. 

A. Committee on Rules, to consist of ten Senators. 

A Committee on Standards. Weights, and Measures, to consist of 
five Senators. 

A Committee on Territories, to consist of twelve Senators. 

A Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard, to consist 
of nine Senators. 

A Committee on Transportation and Sale of Meat Products, to 
consist of five Senators. 

A Committee on the L T niversity of the United States, to consist of 
eleven Senators. 

A Committee on Woman Suffrage, to consist of nine Senators. 



I'KOPO.-KP AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 17 

2. The Committees to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses 
of the Senate, on Printing, and on the Library, shall continue and 
have the power to act until their successors arc appointed. 

QUOEX?M OF COM M ITTEES. 

3. That the several standing committees of the Senate having a 
membership of more than three Senators are hereby respectively 
authorized to fix, each for itself, the number of its members who 
shall constitute a quorum thereof for the transaction of such busi- 
ness as may be considered by said committee; but in no case shall a 
committee, acting under authority of this resolution, fix as a quorum 
thereof any number less than one-third of its entire membership, 
nor shall any report be made to the Senate that is not authorized by 
the concurrence of more than one-half of a majority of such entire 
membership. 

KULE XXVI. 

REFERENCE TO COMMITTEES; MOTIONS TO DISCHARGE, ANL REPORTS OF 
COMMITTEES TO LIE OVER. 

1. When motions are made for reference of a subject to a select 
committee, or to a standing committee, the question of reference to a 
standing committee shall be put first; and a motion simply to refer 
shall not be open to amendment, except to add instructions. (Jef- 
ferson's Manual, Sees. XXVI, XXXIII.) 

2. All reports of committees and motions to discharge a committee 
from the consideration of the subject, and all subjects from which 
a committee shall be discharged, shall lie over one day for considera- 
tion, unless by unanimous consent the Senate shall otherwise direct. 
(Jefferson's Manual, Sees. XXVII, XLIII.) 

RULE XXVII. 

REPORTS OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEES. 

The presentation of reports of committees of conference shall al- 
ways be in order, except when the Journal is being read or a question 
of order or a motion to adjourn is pending, or while the Senate is 
dividing; and when received the question of proceeding to the con- 
sideration of the report, if raised, shall be immediately put, and 
shall be determined without debate. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. 
XLVI.) 

RULE XXVIII. 

messages and Executive Communications. 

1. Messages from the President, of the United States or from the 
House of Representatives may be received at any stage of proceed- 
ings, except while the Senate is dividing, or while the Journal is 
being read, or while a question of order or a motion to adjourn is 
pending. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XLVII.) 

S. Doc. 5, 64-1 2 



18 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 

2. Messages shall be sent to the House of Representatives by the 
Secretary, who shall previously certify the determination of the 
Senate upon all bills, joint resolutions, and ether resolutions which 
may be communicated to the House, or in which its concurrence may 
be requested; and the Secretary shall also certify and deliver to the 
President of the United States all resolutions and other communica- 
tions which may be directed to him by the Senate. . (Jefferson's 
Manual, Sec. XLVII.) 

No communications from heads of departments, commissioners, 
chiefs of bureaus, or other executive officers, except when authorized 
or required by law, or when made in response to a resolution of the 
Senate, will be received by the Senate unless such communications 
shall be transmitted to the Senate by the President. 

RULE XXIX. 

PRINTING OF PAPERS, ETC. 

1. Every motion to print documents, reports, and other matter 
transmitted by either of the Executive Departments, or to print 
memorials, petitions, accompanying documents, or any other paper, 
except bills of the Senate or House of Representatives, resolutions 
submitted by a Senator, communications from the legislatures or con- 
ventions, lawfully called, of the respective States, and motions to 
print by order of the standing or select committees of the Senate, 
shall, unless the Senate otherwise order, be referred to the Committee 
on Printing. When a motion is made to commit with instructions, 
it shall be in order to add thereto a motion to print. 

2. Motions to print additional numbers shall also be referred to 
the Committee on Printing; and when the committee shall report 
favorably, the report shall be accompanied by an estimate of the 
probable cost thereof ; and when the cost of printing such additional 
numbers shall exceed the sum of five hundred dollars, the concur- 
rence of the House of Representatives shall be necessary for an order 
to print the same. 

3. Every bill and joint resolution introduced on leave or reported 
from a committee, and all bills and joint resolutions received from 
the House of Representatives, concurrent and other resolutions and 
all reports of committees, shall be printed, unless, for the dispatch 
of the business of the Senate, such printing may dispensed with. 

RULE XXX. 

WITHDRAWAL OF PAPERS. 

1. No memorial or other paper presented to the Senate, except 
original treaties finally acted upon, shall be withdrawn from its files 
except by order of the Senate. But when an act may pass for the 
settlement of any private claim, the Secretary is authorized to trans- 
mit to the officer charged with the settlement the papers on file relat- 
ing to the claim. 

2. No memorial or other paper upon which an adverse report has 
been made shall be withdrawn from the files of the Senate unless 



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE BULBS. 19 

copies thereof shall be left in the office of the Secretary. (Jefferson's 
Manual, Sec. XVI.) 

RULE XXXI. 

REFERENCE OF CLAIMS ADVERSELY REPORTED. 

Whenever a committee of the Senate, to whom any claim has been 
referred, reports adversely, and the report is agreed to, it shall not 
be in order to move to take the papers from the files for the purpose 
of referring them at a subsequent session, unless the claimant shall 
present a petition therefor, stating that new evidence has been dis- 
covered since the report, and setting forth the substance of such 
new evidence. But when there has been no adverse report it shall 
be the duty of the Secretary to transmit all such papers to the com- 
mittee in which such claims are pending. 

RULE XXXII. 

BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM SESSION TO SESSION. 

At the second or any subsequent session of a Congress, the legis- 
lative business of the Senate which remained undetermined at the 
close of the next preceding session of that Congress shall be resumed 
and proceeded with in the same manner as if no adjournment of the 
Senate had taken place; and all papers referred to committees and 
not reported upon at the close of a session of Congress shall be 
returned to the office of the Secretary of the Senate, and be retained 
b} T him until the next succeeding sessison of that Congress, when 
they shall be returned to the several committees to which they had 
previously been referred. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. LI.) 

RULE XXXIII. 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR. 

No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate while in 
session, except as follows : 

The President of the United States and his private secretary. 

The President elect and Vice President elect of the United States. 

Ex-Presidents and ex-Vice Presidents of the United States. 

Judges of the Supreme Court. 

Ex-Senators and Senators elect. 

The officers and employees of the Senate in the discharge of their 
official duties. 

Ex-Secretaries and ex-Sergeants-at-Arms of the Senate. 

Members of the House of Representatives and Members elect. 

Ex-Speakers of the House of Representatives. 

The Sergeant-at-Arms of the House and his chief deputy and the 
Clerk of the House and his deputy. 

Heads of the Executive Departments. 

Ambassadors and Ministers of the United States. 

Governors of States and Territories. 



20 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULE-. 

The General Commanding the Army. 

The Senior Admiral of the Navy on the active list. 

Members of National Legislatures of foreign countries. 

Judges of the Court of Claims. 

Commissioners of the District of Columbia. 

The Librarian of Congress and the Assistant Librarian in charge 
of the Law Library. 

The Architect of the Capitol. 

The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 

Clerks to Senate committees and clerks to Senators when in the 
actual discharge of their official duties. Clerks to Senators, to be 
admitted to the floor, must be regularly appointed and borne upon 
the rolls of the Secretary of the Senate as such. 

RULE XXXIV. 

REGULATION OF THE SENATE WING OF THE CAPITOL. 

1. The Senate Chamber shall not be granted for any other purpose 
than for the use of the Senate: no smoking shall be permitted at 
any time on the floor of the Senate, or lighted cigars be brought into 
the Chamber. 

2. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Rules to make all rules 
and regulations respecting such parts of the Capitol, its passages 
and galleries, including the restaurant, as are or may be set apart for 
the use of the Senate and its officers, to be enforced under the direc- 
tion of the Presiding Officer. They shall, at the opening of each 
session of Congress, make such regulations respecting the reporters' 
gallery of the Senate as will confine its occupation to bona fide 
reporters for daily newspapers, assigning not to exceed one seat to 
each paper. 

RULE XXXV. 

SESSION WITH CLOSED DOORS. 

On a motion made and seconded to close the doors of the Senate, 
on the discussion of any business which may. in the opinion of a 
Senator, require secrecy, the Presiding Officer shall direct the 
galleries to be cleared : and during the discussion of such motion the 
doors shall remain closed. (Jefferson's Manual, Sec. XVIII.) 

RULE XXXVI. 

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. 

1. When the President of the United States shall meet the Senate 
in the Senate Chamber for the consideration of Executive business, 
he shall have a seat on the right of the Presiding Officer. When the 
Senate shall be convened by the President of the United States to 
any other place, the Presiding Officer of the Senate and the Senators 
shall attend at the place appointed, with the necessary officers of the 
Senate. 



PROPOSED A.MENDMENTS CO THE SENATE RULES. 21 

2. When acting upon confidential or Executive business, unless 
the same shall be considered in open Executive session, the Senate 
Chamber shall be cleared of all persons except the Secretary, the 
Chief Clerk, the Principal Legislative Clerk, the Executive Clerk, 
the Minute and Journal Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Assistant 
Doorkeeper, and such other officers as the Presiding Officer shall think 
necessary; and all such officers shall be sworn to secrecy. 

3. All confident ial communications made by the President of the 
United States to the Senate shall be by the Senators and the officers 
of the Senate kept secret : and all treaties which may be laid before 
the Senate, and all remarks, votes, and proceedings thereon shall also 
be kept secret, until the Senate shall, by their resolution, take off the 
injunction of secrecy, or unless the same shall be considered in open 
Executive session. 

The injunction of secrecy is extended to each step in the considera- 
tion of treaties, including the fact of ratification. (Senate Jour., p. 
571. Appendix.) 

4- Whenever the injunction of secrecy shall be removed from any 
pert of the proceedings of the Senate in Executive session, or secret 
legislative session, the order of the Senate removing the same shall 
be entered by the Secretary of the Legislative Journal as well as in 
the Executive Journal, and shall be published in the Record. (Jef- 
fe, 'son's Manual, Sec. LII.) 

4 5. Any Senator or officer of the Senate who shall disclose the 
secret or confidential business or proceedings of the Senate shall 
be liable, if a Senator, to suffer expulsion from the body; and if 
an officer, to dismissal from the service of the Senate, and to punish- 
ment for contempt. 

h 6. Whenever, by the request of the Senate or any committee 
thereof, any documents or papers shall be communicated to the Sen- 
ate by the President or the head of any Department relating to any 
matter pending in the Senate, the proceedings in regard to which 
are secret or confidential under the rules, said documents and papers 
shall be considered as confidential, and shall not be disclosed without 
leave of the Senate. 

RULE XXXVII. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION PROCEEDINGS OX TREATIES. 

1. When a treaty shall be laid before the Senate for ratification, 
it shall be read a first time; and no motion in respect to it shall be 
in order, except to refer it to a committee, to print it in confidence 
for the use of the Senate, to remove the injunction of secrecy, or to 
consider it in open Executive session. 

When a treaty is reported from a committee with or without 
amendment, it shall, unless the Senate unanimously otherwise direct, 
lie one day for consideration; after which it may be read a second 
time and considered as in Committee of the Whole, when it shall be 
proceeded with by articles, and the amendments reported b}^ the 
committee shall be first acted upon, after wmich other amendments 
may be proposed ; and when through with, the proceedings had as in 
Committee of the Whole shall be reported to the Senate, when the 



22 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE RULES. 

question shall be, if the treaty be amended, " Will the Senate concur 
in the amendments made in Committee of the Whole?" And the 
amendments may be taken separately, or in gross, if no Senator shall 
object; after which new amendments may be proposed. At any stage 
of such proceedings the Senate may remove the injunction of secrecy 
from the treaty, or proceed with its consideration in open Executive 
session. 

The decisions thus made shall be reduced to the form of a resolu- 
tion of ratification, with or without amendments, as the case may be, 
which shall be proposed on a subsequent day, unless, by unanimous 
consent, the Senate determine otherwise; at which stage no amend- 
ment shall be received, unless by unanimous consent. 

On the final question to advise .and consent to the ratification in 
the form agreed to, the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators 
present shall be necessary to determine it in the affirmative: but all 
other motions and questions upon a treaty shall be decided by a 
majority vote, except a motion to postpone indefinitely, which shall 
be decided by a vote of two-thirds. 

2. Treaties transmitted by the President to the Senate for ratifi- 
cation shall be resumed at the second or any subsequent session of 
the same Congress at the stage in which they were left at the final 
adjournment of the session at which they Avere transmitted: but all 
proceedings on treaties shall terminate with the Congress, and they 
shall be resumed at the commencement of the next Congress as if 
no proceedings had previously been had thereon. 

3. All treaties concluded with Indian tribes shall be considered 
and acted upon by the Senate in its open or legislative session, unless 
the same shall be transmitted b} 7 the President to the Senate in confi- 
dence, in which case they shall be acted upon with closed doors. 
(Jefferson's Manual, Sec. LIT.) 

EULE XXXVIII. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION PROCEEDINGS ON NOMINATIONS. 

1. When nominations shall be made by the President of the United 
States to the Senate, they shall, unless otherwise ordered, be referred 
to appropriate committees; and the final question on every nomina- 
tion shall be, " Will the Senate advise and consent to this nomina- 
tion?" which question shall not be put on the same day on which the 
nomination is received, nor on the day on which it may be reported by 
a committee, unless by unanimous consent. 

2. All information communicated or remarks made by a Senator 
when acting upon nominations concerning the character or qualifica- 
tions of the person nominated, also all votes upon any nomination, 
shall be kept secret. If, however, charges shall be made against a 
person nominated, the committee may, in its discretion, notify such 
nominee thereof, but the name of the person making such charges 
shall not be disclosed. The fact that a nomination has been made, or 
that it has been confirmed or rejected, shall not be regarded as a 
secret. 

3. When a nomination is confirmed or rejected, any Senator voting 
in the majority may move for a reconsideration on the same day on 



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 10 THE SENATE RULES. 23 

which the vote was taken, or on either of the next two days of actual 
Executive session of the Senate: but if a notification of the confirma- 
tion or rejection of a nomination shall have been sent to the President 
before the expiration of the time within which a motion to reconsider 
may be made, the motion to reconsider shall be accompanied by a 
motion to request the President to return such notification to the Sen- 
ate. Any motion to reconsider the vote on a nomination may be laid 
on the table without prejudice to the nomination, and shall be a final 
disposition of such motion. 

4. Nominations confirmed or rejected by the Senate shall not be 
returned by the Secretary to the President until the expiration of the 
time limited for making a motion to reconsider the same, or while a 
motion to reconsider is -pending, unless otherwise ordered by the 
Senate. 

5. When the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for more than 
thirty days, all motions to reconsider a vote upon a nomination which 
has been confirmed or rejected by the Senate, which shall be pending 
at the time of taking such adjournment or recess, shall fall; and the 
Secretary shall return all such nominations to the President as con- 
firmed or rejected by the Senate, as the case may be. 

6. Nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the session 
at which they are made shall not be acted upon at any succeeding 
session without being again made to the Senate by the President; 
and if the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for more than thirty 
days, all nominations pending and not finally acted upon at the time 
of taking such adjournment or recess shall be returned by the Secre- 
tary to the President, and shall not again be considered unless they 
shall again be made to the Senate by the President. 

All nominations to office shall be prepared for the printer by the 
Official Reporter, and printed in the Record, after the proceedings of 
the day in which they are received, also nominations recalled, con- 
firmations, and rejections. 

The Secretary shall furnish the Official Reporters ivith a list of 
nominations to office after the proceedings of the day on which they 
are received, and a like list of all confirmations and rejections. 

The Secretary shall furnish to the press, and to the public upon 
request, the names of nominees confirmed or rejected on the day on 
which a final vote shall be had, except when otherwise ordered by the 
Senate. 

RULE XXXIX. 

THE PRESIDENT FURNISHED W T ITH COPIES OF RECORDS OF EXECUTIVE 

SESSIONS. 

The President of the United States shall, from time to time, be 
furnished with an authenticated transcript of the Executive records 
of the Senate, but no further extract from the Executive Journal 
shall be furnished by the Secretary, except by special order of the 
Senate: and no .paper, except original treaties transmitted to the 
Senate by the President of the United States, and finally acted upon 
by the Senate shall be delivered from the office of the Secretary 
without an order of the Senate for that purpose. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

24 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SENA 

RULE XL. 

012 347 446 60 

SUSPENSION AND AMENDMENT OF THE RULES. 

No motion to suspend, modify, or amend any rule, or any part 
thereof, shall be in order, except- on one day's notice in writing, 
specifying precisely the rule or part proposed to be suspended, 
modified, or amended, and the purpose thereof. Any rule may be 
suspended without notice by the unanimous consent of the Senate, 
except as otherAvise provided in clause 1. Rule XII or by a two-tMrd% 
vote, without debate. 



o 



